(no subject)
I've read some people's take on players that made me sit back and wonder what the hell they're smoking. So I've decided rather than explaining to them why they're on crack, I'm going to explain how I see things. You can disagree, you can agree. I don't really care either way. [Edit: If you know anything about other prospects that I don't list, feel free to comment. This team only.]
Team by team, post one.
Ryan Getzlaf He's getting more consistent. Growing up. It's nice to see.
Corey Perry The franchise. Plain and simple.
Chris Kunitz Expendable. If they need to do something big at the deadline, look for him to go. Yes, he's very good on the line with Corey and Ryan, but they don't need him, and if they could get a lot of little parts for this one big part, it wouldn't be a stupid move.
Brendan Morrison A good fit, at the least. Not standout, but he's better for the team than Todd was. If he could have some consistent linemates, we could see some really good things out of him. Then again, he could be trade bait. Does Jersey have anything to give up?
Teemu Selanne Sometimes you can tell he's getting older, sometimes you completely forget. You never know which Teemu you're going to get in any given game. Doesn't mean I don't think he's awesome, nor do I want him to go anywhere.
Bobby Ryan Determined to prove he's more than a trivia answer, he's taken the stage from Ryan and Corey. He scored a goal that will be on every reel this season, on his way to his first hat trick. Playing alongside Ryan Carter helps him as much as playing with the Ducklings does. He doesn't necessarily need skill beside him, he just needs some help in clearing his way. He deserves to have been drafted where he was.
Ryan Carter He'll never be anyone's franchise player, but he has enough skill to be the sidekick. He could be taught to be a goal scoring playmaker if enough attention is paid to him. Worth keeping for sure.
Samuel Pahlsson - Rob Niedermayer - Travis Moen Under-appreciated. Still. A perfect example of what a checking line should be. They don't need to drop the gloves to be effective.
George Parros Every team needs one. He's it. If he wants more money, he's not worth it. But at what he makes, he's not horrible to have in your dressing room.
Scott Niedermayer He's getting old. You can see it in how he plays. He's not as willing to make or take a hit anymore. This may be his last season.
Chris Pronger He's got a mean streak that should surprise no one. More suspensions will happen this playoff series, mark these words. He can't control himself. He doesn't even try. That's not to say he's not one of my favourte defecemen ever.
Bret Hedican He's also getting old. But he was never Scott to begin with, so his slowing down is damn near a crawl. I'm not putting him out to pasture yet, but when he goes, I won't blink. I'd rather spend his salary on someone that can keep up better. Not offencive, but that keeps up with the game. I don't think that's his best skill.
Steve Montador The fact that I don't have anything to say leads me to think I don't notice him. That's good and bad in D. He's not making major mistakes, but he's not doing anything great either. He eats minutes and defends the net. I can't complain.
Kent Huskins A career as 'someone's partner isn't a bad way to make your place in the NHL. I don't see him as being more than that, but that's not saying he's not good at his role. He's a keeper as long as they have those big name guys to pair him with.
Brett Festerling He's such a work in progress that it's almost impossible to tell what he's going to become. Right now he relies very heavily on the big name he's paired with, but that could be rookie nerves. He could grow into a solid player or he could grow into Kent. Time will tell.
Nathan McIver Again, a work in progress. If I had to bet on one or the other, I'd put my money on Brett. Not that I don't think he'll make it, I think he has more work to do. A lot more.
Francois Beauchemin HE IS MISSED!
Jean-Sebastien Giguere He's been off his game, but that won't last. Personal issues will do that, and his father's passing was a big one. He isn't done for, but at best he'll be sharing duties this season. He's not consistent enough to be a real number one anymore.
Jonas Hiller If I had to pick just one of these two goalies, I'd pick him. He's younger and he has a lot of talent. A very quick glove hand and sharp vision. He's less easily flustered than JS, which is surprising since he's so young. He's the keeper.
Notable Prospects
Logan MacMillan We were told he has promise, but it hasn't been seen on the big screen yet. Keep an eye on this one.
Andrew Miller Cap and space gets him sent down when he belongs up. It's a real shame. Don't be surprised to see him traded.
Team by team, post one.
Ryan Getzlaf He's getting more consistent. Growing up. It's nice to see.
Corey Perry The franchise. Plain and simple.
Chris Kunitz Expendable. If they need to do something big at the deadline, look for him to go. Yes, he's very good on the line with Corey and Ryan, but they don't need him, and if they could get a lot of little parts for this one big part, it wouldn't be a stupid move.
Brendan Morrison A good fit, at the least. Not standout, but he's better for the team than Todd was. If he could have some consistent linemates, we could see some really good things out of him. Then again, he could be trade bait. Does Jersey have anything to give up?
Teemu Selanne Sometimes you can tell he's getting older, sometimes you completely forget. You never know which Teemu you're going to get in any given game. Doesn't mean I don't think he's awesome, nor do I want him to go anywhere.
Bobby Ryan Determined to prove he's more than a trivia answer, he's taken the stage from Ryan and Corey. He scored a goal that will be on every reel this season, on his way to his first hat trick. Playing alongside Ryan Carter helps him as much as playing with the Ducklings does. He doesn't necessarily need skill beside him, he just needs some help in clearing his way. He deserves to have been drafted where he was.
Ryan Carter He'll never be anyone's franchise player, but he has enough skill to be the sidekick. He could be taught to be a goal scoring playmaker if enough attention is paid to him. Worth keeping for sure.
Samuel Pahlsson - Rob Niedermayer - Travis Moen Under-appreciated. Still. A perfect example of what a checking line should be. They don't need to drop the gloves to be effective.
George Parros Every team needs one. He's it. If he wants more money, he's not worth it. But at what he makes, he's not horrible to have in your dressing room.
Scott Niedermayer He's getting old. You can see it in how he plays. He's not as willing to make or take a hit anymore. This may be his last season.
Chris Pronger He's got a mean streak that should surprise no one. More suspensions will happen this playoff series, mark these words. He can't control himself. He doesn't even try. That's not to say he's not one of my favourte defecemen ever.
Bret Hedican He's also getting old. But he was never Scott to begin with, so his slowing down is damn near a crawl. I'm not putting him out to pasture yet, but when he goes, I won't blink. I'd rather spend his salary on someone that can keep up better. Not offencive, but that keeps up with the game. I don't think that's his best skill.
Steve Montador The fact that I don't have anything to say leads me to think I don't notice him. That's good and bad in D. He's not making major mistakes, but he's not doing anything great either. He eats minutes and defends the net. I can't complain.
Kent Huskins A career as 'someone's partner isn't a bad way to make your place in the NHL. I don't see him as being more than that, but that's not saying he's not good at his role. He's a keeper as long as they have those big name guys to pair him with.
Brett Festerling He's such a work in progress that it's almost impossible to tell what he's going to become. Right now he relies very heavily on the big name he's paired with, but that could be rookie nerves. He could grow into a solid player or he could grow into Kent. Time will tell.
Nathan McIver Again, a work in progress. If I had to bet on one or the other, I'd put my money on Brett. Not that I don't think he'll make it, I think he has more work to do. A lot more.
Francois Beauchemin HE IS MISSED!
Jean-Sebastien Giguere He's been off his game, but that won't last. Personal issues will do that, and his father's passing was a big one. He isn't done for, but at best he'll be sharing duties this season. He's not consistent enough to be a real number one anymore.
Jonas Hiller If I had to pick just one of these two goalies, I'd pick him. He's younger and he has a lot of talent. A very quick glove hand and sharp vision. He's less easily flustered than JS, which is surprising since he's so young. He's the keeper.
Notable Prospects
Logan MacMillan We were told he has promise, but it hasn't been seen on the big screen yet. Keep an eye on this one.
Andrew Miller Cap and space gets him sent down when he belongs up. It's a real shame. Don't be surprised to see him traded.